Here Are All The Mercury Retrograde Dates You Need To Know

Chances are, you’ve probably heard of Mercury retrograde and how it can wreak havoc on everyone’s lives. The phenomenon — which occurs every so often due to the Earth's position relative to the planet — is said to affect communication between people and cause plenty of hesitation and confusion in relationships due to the fact that, in astrology, Mercury rules those very important sectors. Well, it’s time to buckle up: a full 2017 Mercury retrograde is officially set to kick off on Apr. 9, before ending May 3. Then, Mercury spends a good chunk of time direct until Aug. 13, when it retrogrades until Sept. 5. Finally, it'll retrograde once more in 2017 between Dec. 3 and Dec. 23. I know, I know — sounds heavy. Don't freak out just yet, though.

According to Astrology Zone, 2017’s Mercury retrograde will start in early April and last several weeks, through May 3. For the duration of this month or so, everyone should be on high alert. The planet Mercury rules various kinds of communication, and when the planet enters its retrograde cycle, things have a tendency to go haywire.

So what should you be on the lookout for? This time period often results in a lot of small but significant misunderstandings and disruptions, such as losing a document, sending a private email to the wrong person, and dealing with a lot of computer and other electronic-related issues.

All of this means you should take extra care when dealing with important paperwork, sending emails, and looking over instructions at work and elsewhere. Per Astrology Zone, it’s also best to hold off on signing any contracts or making any binding decisions during this time period. If you can’t avoid it, it’s best to take a more flexible approach, such as making contingency plans for delays in travel or asking for extra time to consider that job offer.

Of course, you can take all the precautions in the world and some days still won’t go as planned. After all, life is stressful, regardless of whether Mercury is in retrograde or not. But in these tricky days ahead, it’s important to act with caution and take these missteps in stride.

The good news? You’re not in this alone, as Mercury Retrograde affects basically everyone equally. Plus, the next retrograde cycle isn’t until August, so we’ll have all summer to enjoy without any astrological disruptions.